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| Ha Ji-won in Climax / Photo = Haewadal Entertainment |
By Jeong Ye-won, Sports Today Ha Ji-won has a knack for making both light and dark stories entirely her own. Three decades into her career, the actress’s evolution is very much ongoing.
ENA’s Monday–Tuesday drama Climax, which wraps on April 14, follows prosecutor Bang Tae-seop (Joo Ji-hoon) as he plunges into a power cartel to reach the top — and the ruthless fight to survive among those caught in his orbit. Ha Ji-won delivers a daring turn as top actress Chu Sang-ah.
“I’m so grateful viewers have enjoyed the show,” she said. “None of the scenes were easy. Chu Sang-ah changes through a series of choices, so both understanding her and playing her were challenging.”
She laughed, “Isn’t this role a big departure from what I’ve done before? People around me tell me I look scary. My friends joke, ‘It’s a relief Ha Ji-won hasn’t been angry until now.’ Even my mom said my expression is too intense.”
Portraying an actress required a special approach. Ha Ji-won treated the role as an opportunity to expand her character study. “Chu Sang-ah is shaped by her environment and is very unstable. I wanted to dig deeper into who she is. It was important to me to see her actions as those of a human being.”
That perspective made Climax stand out for her. “No role has been easy. Viewers will judge an actor’s image, but I concentrate on how a character exists. As I get older, I feel it’s my responsibility to express those layers. Climax taught me a lot about living inside a character.”
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| Ha Ji-won in Climax / Photo = Haewadal Entertainment |
She says she stayed fully immersed in the role throughout filming. “There was a moment when Chu Sang-ah couldn’t eat — it felt almost like anorexia. I experienced that emotion in the same way. It was psychologically intense, like acting within acting. There were times I felt so drained I wanted it to be over. Watching the show after it aired, I felt more relieved than I did then.”
Director Lee Ji-won also asked her to follow a strict diet. “The director described Sang-ah as sensitive and thin but meticulously managed. Because she wears slips often, the director wanted them to look a little loose, so I lost weight,” Ha Ji-won said. “I’m naturally muscular, so losing muscle was tough. I barely walked. I went from 50㎏ to 45㎏ (about 110 lb to 99 lb). I think this is the first time I’ve shared my weight like this (laughs). I trimmed down previously bulky muscle.”
She praised her chemistry with co-star Joo Ji-hoon. “We clicked immediately — we didn’t need rehearsals and we didn’t do many takes. Even the difficult scenes were fun to shoot. This was our first project together, and we really worked well. Fans who hoped for a romance between Bang Tae-seop and Chu Sang-ah seemed disappointed, but maybe there’s a chance in a future project…” she added, leaving the door open.
On working with Nana on a provocative same-sex storyline, she said they made each other comfortable and supported one another. “We filmed the kiss scene without issue. Watching playback, we looked great together.”
Addressing the show’s ratings in the low-3% range, she said she wasn’t discouraged. “I never felt disappointed. I’ve heard many viewers say they enjoyed it. I’ve been struck by how much buzz the drama has generated.”
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| Ha Ji-won in Climax / Photo = Haewadal Entertainment |
Ha Ji-won, who also works as a writer and across other fields, debuted in 1996 — three decades ago. “I don’t feel like I’ve noticed time passing. The years fly by,” she said. “I feel a greater sense of responsibility as an actor.”
She recalled once saying she wanted to be the best artist and see how far she could go. “Everyone has desires. The difference is between what you don’t know and what you recognize. I truly want to be the best in the world. That requires proper effort and responsibility, and I always work hard.”
She also discussed her recent web variety project, 26 Classmate Ji-won. “I didn’t really experience college life when I was twenty, so revisiting that time was emotional. It felt like time travel. I’m grateful my friends have been so kind. Sometimes I get a reality check — I’m the senior, but they’re twenty-five (laughs). I learn a lot, and sometimes I share life advice as an elder. I appreciate the chance to connect.”
Ha Ji-won closed by teasing the rest of Climax’s run. “It gets more exciting from here. I told the director once that it felt like I was treating every scene like a climax. The tension, the twists, and the unpredictability keep coming.”
[Sports Today reporter Jeong Ye-won ent@stoo.com]
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